Happy 12th Gotcha Day, Angel Truffles!

Twelve years ago today I adopted Truffles. There's no happier day than the day a new fur baby arrives, and I still remember picking her up at Petco, bringing her home and her settling in like she was always meant to be there.

She was so young, we were going to have so much time together...but that wasn't meant to be.

Would I have brought her home that day if I'd known the heartbreak to follow? Without a doubt. In our short two years together she left me with memories that will last a lifetime.

And now I'm glad I didn't know

The way it all would end the way it all would go

Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain

But I'd have had to miss the dance

The Dance, Garth Brooks

Tara & Truffles...Forever Loved, Forever Missed

 

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the day my baby girl Truffles flew off to the bridge, and the 12th anniversary of the day her big sister Tara paved the way before her.

It goes without saying this is the hardest day of the year for me. Comprehending the tragic set of circumstances that took Truffles from me far before her time is something I will always struggle with, and most likely something I will never be able to accept. She deserved so much more from life. And the fact that I lost them both on the same day two years apart makes me wish I could scratch this date right off the calendar.

In honor of my precious girls, please give your own fur babies a little something special today. Maybe an extra hug or kiss, a few more minutes of play or cuddle time, extra treats wouldn't hurt either.

Our time together is so fleeting; their fragile lives all too short. Never miss an opportunity to show them how much they're loved.

Happy 11th Gotcha Day, Angel Truffles!

Eleven years ago today I adopted Truffles. There's no happier day than the day a new fur baby arrives, and I still remember picking her up at Petco, bringing her home and her settling in like she was always meant to be there.

She was so young, we were going to have so much time together...but that wasn't meant to be.

Would I have brought her home that day if I'd known the heartbreak to follow? Without a doubt. In our short two years together she left me with memories that will last a lifetime.

And now I'm glad I didn't know

The way it all would end the way it all would go

Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain

But I'd have had to miss the dance

The Dance, Garth Brooks

Tara & Truffles...Forever Loved, Forever Missed

 

Today marks the 9th anniversary of the day my baby girl Truffles flew off to the bridge, and the 11th anniversary of the day her big sister Tara paved the way before her.

It goes without saying this is the hardest day of the year for me. Comprehending the tragic set of circumstances that took Truffles from me far before her time is something I will always struggle with, and most likely something I will never be able to accept. She deserved so much more from life. And the fact that I lost them both on the same day two years apart makes me wish I could scratch this date right off the calendar.

In honor of my precious girls, please give your own fur babies a little something special today. Maybe an extra hug or kiss, a few more minutes of play or cuddle time, extra treats wouldn't hurt either.

Our time together is so fleeting; their fragile lives all too short. Never miss an opportunity to show them how much they're loved.

Feline Friday Flashback with Angel Truffles: Somebody's Watching Me

"Do you ever have the feeling that you're being watched?" -- Angel Truffles

Note from Mommy:

This picture was taken 9 years ago. I still use the same laptop, and that's still my wallpaper!

(Mudpie is on the home screen of my iPad and cell phone.)

Feline Friday is simple to join. All you have to do is:

Post a picture, drawing, cartoon or video of a cat (They may be silly or cute).

Tara & Truffles...Forever Loved, Forever Missed

 

Today marks the 8th anniversary of the day my baby girl Truffles flew off to the bridge, and the 10th anniversary of the day her big sister Tara paved the way before her.

It goes without saying this is the hardest day of the year for me. Comprehending the tragic set of circumstances that took Truffles from me far before her time is something I will always struggle with, and most likely something I will never be able to accept. She deserved so much more from life. And the fact that I lost them both on the same day two years apart makes me wish I could scratch this date right off the calendar.

In honor of my precious girls, please give your own fur babies a little something special today. Maybe an extra hug or kiss, a few more minutes of play or cuddle time, extra treats wouldn't hurt either.

Our time together is so fleeting; their fragile lives all too short. Never miss an opportunity to show them how much they're loved.

Feline Flashback Friday: The Standoff

Meows from Mudpie! Today for Feline Friday we're throwing it back to my big sisfur Truffles in 2015. I'll let her tell you what was going on in this fun photo...

Awhile back Mommy got a new Grumpy Cat plush and she did something very foolish...she put her in my lounger!!! I tried to act nonchalant so she wouldn't know that it bothered me, but look at how Grumps is taunting me! Don't get too comfortable there, buckaroo! That lounger is mine!

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Note from Mudpie: Wasn't that Truffles a cool cucumber? Washing her paw like she didn't have a care in the world. I think she was getting ready to give Miss Grumps the ol' smackeroo! 

Feline Friday is simple to join. All you have to do is:

Post a picture, drawing, cartoon or video of a cat (They may be silly or cute).

Feline Friday Flashback: Bathing Habits

Meows from Mudpie!

Today we're digging into the archives to April 2015 with Angel Truffles.

Mommy says Truffles was the most fastidious cat she's ever seen. That girl was constantly washing, and had constant hairballs to prove it! 

I'm a little different. Of course I keep myself very clean, but I don't take a complete and thorough bath on a daily basis. If something is dirty, I wash it. Why bathe your entire body if only a couple parts need freshening up? 

How about the kitties in your life? Do they take a daily bath or just wash what needs washing each day? I'm very curious!

Feline Friday is simple to join. All you have to do is:

Post a picture, drawing, cartoon or video of a cat (They may be silly or cute).

Belated Happy 9th Gotcha Day, Angel Truffles! #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie!

Mommy feels like the worst cat mom in the world, because shortly after midnight yesterday she remembered that it was Angel Truffles' Gotcha Day, and our post for the day was already up.

I suggested she choose one of her favorite pictures of Truffles as our entry in the Sunday Selfies blog hop this week. We only wish she was still here with us today.

 

Tara & Truffles...Forever Loved, Forever Missed

Today marks the 7th anniversary of the day my baby girl Truffles flew off to the bridge, and the 9th anniversary of the day her big sister Tara paved the way before her.

It goes without saying this is the hardest day of the year for me. Comprehending the tragic set of circumstances that took Truffles from me far before her time is something I will always struggle with, and most likely something I will never be able to accept. She deserved so much more from life. And the fact that I lost them both on the same day two years apart makes me wish I could scratch this date right off the calendar. 

In honor of my precious girls, please give your own fur babies a little something special today. Maybe an extra hug or kiss, a few more minutes of play or cuddle time, extra treats wouldn't hurt either.

Our time together is so fleeting; their fragile lives all too short. Never miss an opportunity to show them how much they're loved.

Feline Friday Flashback: Truffles' Makeshift Bed

Mommy here!

Whenever we go searching through the archives for a flashback post, I'm amazed (and saddened) by how many precious moments I've completely forgotten about.

 

After just posting on Wednesday about Mudpie's beloved brown crinkle paper, I stumbled on this picture of Angel Truffles. What I love the most about it is the way she had tipped the box over and made a bed out of the packing paper inside, perfectly shaped to fit her size. 

She was such a sweet, special girl.

Feline Friday is simple to join. All you have to do is:

Post a picture, drawing, cartoon or video of a cat (They may be silly or cute).

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day 2021 #CaturdayArt

Meows from Mudpie!

We weren't really sure what to do this year for Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day. After all, just last month we honored Tara and Truffles on the anniversary of their journey to the Bridge, and last week saw the celebration of what was Truffles' Gotcha Day. 

Since this special day falls on a Saturday this year we thought we would just do something artsy with one of our favorite photos of Truffles. There's not a doubt in our minds that she and Mommy's other angel kitties are watching over us every single day.

ABOUT RAINBOW BRIDGE REMEMBRANCE DAY:

This special day was created by Deborah Barnes – author, award winning blogger, and cat advocate in tribute to her cat, Mr. Jazz, who she had to say goodbye to on August 28, 2013. She shared the journey of letting him go in her book, “Purr Prints of the Heart: A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond,” a warm and heartfelt book that is written in the wise and comforting voice of Mr. Jazz himself as he shares his life and death journey to offer guidance and understanding through a cat’s perspective as to why sometimes letting a pet go can be the greatest gift you give them.

A special event page for Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day has been created on Facebook so that people can share blog post links, pictures, poems, favorite memories, etc. 

Visit other artsy kitties at Athena's Caturday Art blog hop!

Happy 8th Gotcha Day, Angel Truffles!

Eight years ago today I adopted Truffles. There's no happier day than the day a new fur baby arrives, and I still remember picking her up at Petco, bringing her home and her settling in like she was always meant to be there.

She was so young, we were going to have so much time together...but that wasn't meant to be.

Would I have brought her home that day if I'd known the heartbreak to follow? Without a doubt. In our short two years together she left me with memories that will last a lifetime.

And now I'm glad I didn't know

The way it all would end the way it all would go

Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain

But I'd have had to miss the dance

The Dance, Garth Brooks

National Hot Dog Day with Angel Truffles #WaybackWednesday

 

Remembering Two Special Angels

Today marks the 6th anniversary of the day my baby girl Truffles flew off to the bridge, and the 8th anniversary of the day her big sister Tara paved the way before her.

It goes without saying this is the hardest day of the year for me. Comprehending the tragic set of circumstances that took Truffles from me far before her time is something I will always struggle with, and most likely something I will never be able to accept. She deserved so much more from life. And the fact that I lost them both on the same day two years apart makes me wish I could scratch this date right off the calendar.

In honor of my precious girls, please give your own fur babies a little something special today. Maybe an extra hug or kiss, a few more minutes of play or cuddle time, extra treats wouldn't hurt either.

Our time together is so fleeting; their fragile lives all too short. Never miss an opportunity to show them how much they're loved.

Flashback Friday: A Valentine Memory

Meows from Mudpie!

Mommy and I went searching for a fun Valentine memory to share as a Flashback Friday, and what we found made Mommy's eyes leak. It was Truffles' last Valentine's Day in 2015, just months before she ran off for the Bridge, and what makes this memory even more poignant is that sweet Cody joined Truffles at the Bridge last summer. We hope they have something special planned this year for Valentine's Day now that they're reunited.

Here's Truffles' original post as she wrote it...

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Hey everybody, it's Truffles! Did you know that I got a Valentine gift this year? It's true! Cody from Cat Chat with Caren and Cody went looking for a little feline companionship and I was one of the lucky ladies that he picked! I hear he's playing the field a little bit, but that's okay. Mommy says that once you go tortie there's no going back!

This is the cute package he sent me:

It contained a sparkle fish and an elephant stuffie (how did he know that Mommy affiliates herself with the elephant party?)

I immediately gravitated towards the sparkle fish. (Check out the leg action!)

Thank you so much for the thoughtful gifts, Cody. Call me!

A Christmas Memory: Wrapping Gifts with Truffles

Christmas is all about memories, making new ones while remembering days gone by.

Last week in our fill in answers I mentioned that wrapping gifts is my least favorite thing about the holiday season, but while browsing through old Christmas blog posts I stumbled upon this sweet scene from 2013 when it wasn't such a chore because of a very special helper, my Angel Truffles.

It was our first Christmas together (we only ended up having two), and as soon as I pulled out all the colorful paper and tags to settle in for an afternoon of wrapping she settled into her bed to supervise. She always loved crinkly papers so I think she had fun with all the noises I was making.

It was the most enjoyable time I'd had wrapping gifts in a very long time simply because she was there with me.

Do your cats enjoy helping with wrapping?

(Mudpie can take it or leave it...some years she helps, others she sleeps right through it!)

The Heartbreak of a Saddle Thrombus Blood Clot

Over the past couple months many people have asked that I republish my Muse Medallion winning article here on our blog since the majority of Canidae's content was removed when their blog shut down. Here it is, in its entirety. 

The July 4th weekend in 2015 was much like any other – way too hot for my liking – and I was looking forward to spending some lazy days in the air conditioning with my tortie Truffles. Starting to weigh on my mind was the fact that Truffles’ breathing was noticeably heavier than usual. Having lost a cat two years earlier to congestive heart failure I had become somewhat paranoid about watching my cats breathe, but she was otherwise acting perfectly normal, it had been very hot, and she had been trying to bring up a hairball. At only four years old there had to be an innocent explanation. Trying not to let myself get overly worked up, I was glad I had the long weekend to monitor her. Something in my gut told me a vet visit would be in order that coming week. 

Returning home from work Monday afternoon I found her enjoying a long nap in the screened-in bathroom window. After dinner I curled up on the couch to watch TV and Truffles came out to see me. Suddenly she became very uncomfortable, moving from spot to spot on the rug. Then she got up and ran for the bathroom crying, typical behavior when she felt a hairball coming, so I was relieved that it might be coming out. Instead she just laid down again and then headed for the kitchen floor.

That's when it got really bad. She started writhing all over and opening her mouth to gasp for breath. Then she started screaming, getting up to head for another room but her back legs went out from under her and she couldn't walk.

We headed straight to the emergency vet, which we found packed with patients. As soon as I yelled that my cat couldn’t breathe a vet standing there grabbed the carrier and ran out back with her. After filling out some paperwork I was brought to a room where I could still hear her screaming.

After what seemed like an eternity the vet came in and asked what my cat’s name was. She explained that Truffles' back legs were cold, and a test of her blood sugar showed a big difference between her front and back legs. This told her that she had a blood clot that broke off and cut off the blood supply to her back legs - a saddle thrombus. She said Truffles was in extreme pain and the kindest thing would be to let her go, because even if she survived the chances were very high that it would happen again.

Knowing I would never be able to live with myself if she had even the slightest chance, the choice was made to put Truffles on powerful pain medication, blood thinners, and time in the oxygen cage. If she was stable in the morning an echocardiogram and further testing would be done. I was allowed to visit her in the back room where the oxygen cage was located in order to say good night, then I reluctantly went home.

I hadn't been home for a half hour when the vet called saying the pain meds had already worn off and she was screaming again, gasping for breath. She didn't even dare take Truffles out of the oxygen cage to evaluate her. I knew I had no choice but to end her suffering. I told the vet I would be there as fast as I could so I could comfort her one last time, but by the time I got there my baby was already gone. It still kills me to think she died surrounded by strangers, likely wondering where her Mommy was. I was assured nothing could’ve been done to save her, that as incomprehensible as it was, it was just “her time”.

There’s no overstating the cruelty of a saddle thrombus blood clot. I think it’s safe to say it’s something most cat owners have never even heard of until they find themselves facing it, yet it’s a frighteningly common occurrence and devastating diagnosis.

What is a Saddle Thrombus?

Feline aortic thromboembolism (FATE), also known as a saddle thrombus, occurs in cats with heart disease and affects as many as 25 percent of cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a common feline heart condition. FATE usually occurs without warning and can be the first and only sign of heart disease in some cats. Ninety percent of cats with FATE have a pre-existing heart problem.

An aortic thromboembolism is a blood clot that forms in the left atrium of the heart. Part of the clot dislodges and travels through the aorta, the largest artery in the body which runs down the entire length of the back. The aorta splits into two arteries (the left and right iliac arteries) to supply the back legs. That split is called the saddle. The dislodged blood clot often gets stuck in the wedge at the top of the saddle, preventing blood flow to the back legs.

Symptoms:

Usually the signs of saddle thrombus will come on incredibly quickly, and include:

• Paralysis or weakness of the back legs
• Restlessness initially, presumably due to pins and needles type feelings in the leg(s) as blood supply diminishes.
• Crying or screaming
• Panting or open-mouthed breathing

Your vet will look for:

• Loss of pulse in the affected limb(s)
• Rear legs that are cool to the touch
• Leg muscles that are hard and extremely painful
• Paw pads and nail beds that appear blue-tinged
• If clipped beyond the quick, claws on the affected limb fail to bleed
• Reduced glucose level in the affected limbs
• Abnormal cardiac sounds

Diagnosis:

A saddle thrombus is typically diagnosed based on its distinctive clinical presentation. Additional testing may be needed, such as a complete blood count and biochemistry profile, chest x-rays and/or echocardiogram (ultrasound) to evaluate the size and shape of the heart, and doppler test to confirm the absence of blood flow in the legs.

Treatment:

Because of the excruciating pain a cat with a blood clot is experiencing, the administration of strong morphine-derived pain killers is the first course of action. Medication will be given to dissolve the clot, as well as anticoagulants such as aspirin or Plavix to thin the blood and help stop additional blood clots forming. (The cat I had prior to Truffles with heart disease was on Plavix for a couple years as a preventive measure.) Cats in concurrent heart failure will receive diuretics to remove fluid build-up and oxygen therapy.

Cats with acute FATE require intensive care in a hospital setting for the first 48 hours or more. Strict cage rest is required at home and may last several days to weeks. Around the clock care will be necessary to keep the paralyzed cat clean and comfortable while the hind legs slowly heal and regain function.

Prognosis:

Due to the devastating nature of the condition, extreme pain, and subsequent long term management of the underlying heart disease, at least a quarter of pet parents choose euthanasia over any form of treatment. Even if the cat recovers from the initial event, the risk of another clot forming is extremely high. There is a slightly better prognosis for cats with milder blockages that affect only one leg or don't cause complete paralysis of the legs. These cats may eventually recover full function and do relatively well. Incredibly, medicinal leeching is being studied as an alternative treatment, with an Israeli veterinarian claiming to have a 90% success rate in returning cats to a normal life using leech therapy.

I can easily say without a moment’s hesitation that watching what Truffles endured that night is the most heartbreaking thing I have ever experienced. A saddle thrombus is truly every cat parent’s worst nightmare. My heart soars when I learn about a cat who beats the odds and recovers, and my greatest hope is that ongoing medical research will one day discover new treatment options to offer a glimmer of hope to an otherwise incredibly grim diagnosis.

Thankful Thursday: Mewsings on a Muse (Medallion)

Four years ago I was stunned to win a Muse Medallion from the Cat Writers' Association on my very first try. I won in the Blog category, and my post submissions had been regarding Truffles' sudden passing. My experiences through that tragic time inspired some of my best writing, and to have it acknowledged by a group I respected so much and had wanted to be a part of for a very long time was one of the highlights of my life.

Over the past few years I've won several more Certificates of Excellence but in all honesty I didn't expect to ever win another Muse. The competition is incredibly stiff and just being a contender is an incredible honor.

This year the awards ceremony was held virtually. It was held the weekend before my mother's birthday and I had family things going on but I planned to dip in and out of the ceremony as time allowed. I wanted to catch the very beginning though and kept watching when the Written Article: Health & General Care categories were announced first since I had submitted three articles in those categories. 

I almost fell off the couch when my name was announced as the winner of a Muse for an article I wrote for Canidae, The Heartbreak of a Saddle Thrombus Blood Clot, chronicling not only my personal experience with Truffles, but going on further to explain what a saddle thrombus is, signs to look out for, treatment options and the fairly bleak outlook. 

While it was a shock to win another Muse I had to smile knowing that once again Truffles was the reason behind it. Even from the Rainbow Bridge she's touching hearts and making a difference in people's lives. I shared her story hoping it might help just one cat parent going through a similar situation. I'm sure I'm not the only one who had never even heard of a saddle thrombus before experiencing it firsthand, and it's terrifying beyond words when you don't know what's going on. My goal is to one day write another article on the subject filled with hope and medical advances that are saving cats' lives from such a hideous condition.

Unfortunately I don't have a link to the article because Canidae's blog shut down in January and they inexplicably removed the majority of their content. Thankfully I saved everything I wrote for the site and I plan to republish it in its entirety here very soon because it contains such valuable information.

Many thanks to the judges for honoring my beloved Truffles with another Muse Medallion. This award belongs to her and her alone. 

Visit Brian's Home for more thankful kitties and doggies!

Throwback Thursday: Zooming Into Truffles' 7th Gotcha Day

Tuesday afternoon I visited Michaels to pick up a few Lemax Spooky Town pieces that were finally listed as available on their website. Petco is right next door so I stopped in to pick up a couple things for Mudpie. Every time I go in that store I remember the happy day I picked Truffles up from their adoption center - 7 years ago today.

In our short two years together Truffles left me with memories that will last a lifetime, and today instead of focusing on the sadness I want to remember one of the fun times.

Not too long before she went to the Bridge Truffles won a racecar scratcher. NASCAR fanatic that I am, I was just as excited about the prize as she was! When it arrived we put together a fun little post that still makes me smile.

Mudpie inherited the scratcher and still uses it to this day, but let's just say it looks likes its been in a number of collisions over the years! Even though it's shredded and gouged I could never throw it out though. It has too many memories attached to it.